Which smoker to buy

[Hards Alumni]

Home made bacon for the tailgater at Lambeau today.

Nice!  My FIL makes his own bacon and its fantastic... I just think its a little salty for my taste.

[Benny B]

The thing I like most about homemade bacon... the fact that it's water content is much lower than packaged bacon makes it easy to separate a few strips while it's still frozen, for those mornings when you need want some bacon but don't quite want need a full pound.  Just slam the frozen, pre-sliced slab against the countertop, peel off what you need, and throw the rest back in the freezer.

[warriorchick]

The thing I like most about homemade bacon... the fact that it's water content is much lower than packaged bacon makes it easy to separate a few strips while it's still frozen, for those mornings when you need want some bacon but don't quite want need a full pound.  Just slam the frozen, pre-sliced slab against the countertop, peel off what you need, and throw the rest back in the freezer.

Or don't freeze it in the first place.  Unless you only eat bacon like once a month, it won't go bad in the fridge.

And if you only eat bacon once a month, what is wrong with you?

[Benny B]

Or don't freeze it in the first place.  Unless you only eat bacon like once a month, it won't go bad in the fridge.

And if you only eat bacon once a month, what is wrong with you?

Some of us who still have three kids in the house full time simply don't have space in the fridge for 10+ lbs of bacon, chick.

And if you're buying less than 10 lbs. of bacon at a time, for shame.

[jfmu]

A quick question if someone wouldn't mind answering.

If someone is just going to be smoking a few times a year (mostly pheasant) and has never used a smoker, is it worth getting a BGE? Not necessarily cost being the biggest factor but ease of use, etc.

Figured one of you all would be able to give insight.

[real chili 83]

If that's all you are using it for, I'd get an electric smoker.

The egg is terrific, and fairly easy to use.  You can get very precise with an egg if you buy accessories to control airflow and temperature.  The downsize to an egg is its size and cost.

If you plan to use the egg for grilling and smoking, it's tough to beat.  If you are using it to smoke infrequently, go with the electric smoker.  Super simple to use.

[real chili 83]

If that's all you are using it for, I'd get an electric smoker.

The egg is terrific, and fairly easy to use.  You can get very precise with an egg if you buy accessories to control airflow and temperature.  The downsize to an egg is its size and cost.

If you plan to use the egg a lot for grilling and smoking, it's tough to beat.  If you are using it to smoke infrequently, go with the electric smoker.  Super simple to use.

[🏀]

If you can afford it and the accessories, get the Egg.

You'll find yourself using it for damn near everything

[jfmu]

Thanks guys. Any good recs for a electric smoker. Maybe starting with that and if end up using a ton will shell out the $ for an egg later on.

TIA

[real chili 83]

Thanks guys. Any good recs for a electric smoker. Maybe starting with that and if end up using a ton will shell out the $ for an egg later on.

TIA

Mine is a Materbuilt.  You can get the base model for $150.

[Benny B]

For a once-or-twice-a-year?  Get the cheapest box you can from Menards when they go on sale (which happens to be RIGHT NOW).  $70 is a small price to pay in order to gauge whether this is something you'd consider as a weekend and holiday obsession hobby.

Otherwise, you're not going to find a world of difference with electrics until you hit the $250+ price point, and frankly, if you're going to spend that kind of money, you should really endeavor for justifying an egg or a barrel/firebox smoker.

[real chili 83]

Benny, what do you use?

[Benny B]

CharGriller Pro with side box and seasoned cherry, exclusively.

[rocket surgeon]

Mine is a Materbuilt.  You can get the base model for $150.

great advice from the "real" master-the masterbuilts are super easy to use, especially for starting out and inexpensive.  also check out their website.

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070210-30-Inch-Electric-Analog/dp/B0034VXAY0/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-2&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker



https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070910-30-Inch-Electric-Controller/dp/B00104WRCY/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-1&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker
       this is the one that i've had for 3-4 years.  next one will be the bluetooth

and then they have a portable for $99-

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20073716-Portable-Electric-Smoker/dp/B01FJVSX30/ref=sr_1_8?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-8&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker

and last but not least-an electric "egg-like" for $82

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20078616-Electric-Bullet-Smoker/dp/B01FJVSWFY/ref=sr_1_12?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-12&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker

these prices are probably a little better than gander mountain or company direct. 

[vogue65]

37,000 views since the beginning of August, what the hell are you people talking about?
I  have never opened the thread, I  thought it would go away peacefully, die of its owne accord, but no, it lives on and grows like the blob.
14 pages that I have never read,  I  wonder if I  went to the wrong University.  I must be on another planet, so much interest in "smokers".  What a world it must be living in Wisconsin these days, pontoon boats and smokers, oh boy.

[real chili 83]

37,000 views since the beginning of August, what the hell are you people talking about?
I  have never opened the thread, I  thought it would go away peacefully, die of its owne accord, but no, it lives on and grows like the blob.
14 pages that I have never read,  I  wonder if I  went to the wrong University.  I must be on another planet, so much interest in "smokers".  What a world it must be living in Wisconsin these days, pontoon boats and smokers, oh boy.

Thanks for stopping by.

[vogue65]

Thanks for stopping by.

Any time, my pleasure, just had Italian smoked wild bore salami, not my thing, wife loved it, there are hillybillies everywhere and not just in Texas and Virginia.

[reinko]

great advice from the "real" master-the masterbuilts are super easy to use, especially for starting out and inexpensive.  also check out their website.

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070210-30-Inch-Electric-Analog/dp/B0034VXAY0/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-2&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker



https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20070910-30-Inch-Electric-Controller/dp/B00104WRCY/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-1&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker
       this is the one that i've had for 3-4 years.  next one will be the bluetooth

and then they have a portable for $99-

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20073716-Portable-Electric-Smoker/dp/B01FJVSX30/ref=sr_1_8?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-8&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker

and last but not least-an electric "egg-like" for $82

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20078616-Electric-Bullet-Smoker/dp/B01FJVSWFY/ref=sr_1_12?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1481022994&sr=1-12&keywords=masterbuilt+electric+smoker

these prices are probably a little better than gander mountain or company direct.

Rocket, I have never smoked on an electric smoker before, what are your overall thoughts?  I am looking for something to just make it easier/cleaner, thus being able to do it more often, without sacrificing too much flavor. 

[Benny B]

37,000 views since the beginning of August, what the hell are you people talking about?
I  have never opened the thread, I  thought it would go away peacefully, die of its owne accord, but no, it lives on and grows like the blob.
14 pages that I have never read,  I  wonder if I  went to the wrong University.  I must be on another planet, so much interest in "smokers".  What a world it must be living in Wisconsin these days, pontoon boats and smokers, oh boy.

Any time, my pleasure, just had Italian smoked wild bore salami, not my thing, wife loved it, there are hillybillies everywhere and not just in Texas and Virginia.

Comical.

Besides the fact that - other than rocket about whom I am not sure - the top contributors to this thread are living in Illinois, Minnesota and Washington.... that someone would essentially equate his wife to a hillybilly (which in this case amounts to vociferous resentment of his own wife, be it deliberate or subconscious) on a public forum has to be a new level of achievement for smoked meats.

[Class71]

Sorry to throw water on smokers but smokers, like sugar,  likely increase various cancer risks considerably. I am not a doctor but I am a two time cancer surviver with considerable first hand knowledge on the subject.

True almost anything has some risk and yes we are all going to die from something but cancer is a horrible way to go. I have seen far too many fall to this disease. 

[reinko]

Sorry to throw water on smokers but smokers, like sugar,  likely increase various cancer risks considerably. I am not a doctor but I am a two time cancer surviver with considerable first hand knowledge on the subject.

True almost anything has some risk and yes we are all going to die from something but cancer is a horrible way to go. I have seen far too many fall to this disease.

You can get cancer from meat? Thought I just had to worry about heart disease and high cholesterol.

[rocket surgeon]

Rocket, I have never smoked on an electric smoker before, what are your overall thoughts?  I am looking for something to just make it easier/cleaner, thus being able to do it more often, without sacrificing too much flavor.

the "smokin purists" probably cringe, but i love the electric because i can control the temperature like an oven.  if your want to make cleaning easier, tin foil, tin foil and more tin foil.  also, spray down anything not tin foiled with pam or some other spray oil.  and, clean it more often. 

  as for the flavor, chili could probably tell you more about that, but it still burns the wood of your choice. i haven't had many people turn down a good piece of smoked meat(or fish). i think it's like people who still believe the charcoal grill is the only way to go. doing a pork shoulder or belly and beef brisket for Christmas.

    i love the side loader, as most decent smokers have, so you don't have to open the doors to add chips.

this may be somewhat biased as i've never used anything but an electric, but i believe they do a nice job

[vogue65]

Comical.

Besides the fact that - other than rocket about whom I am not sure - the top contributors to this thread are living in Illinois, Minnesota and Washington.... that someone would essentially equate his wife to a hillybilly (which in this case amounts to vociferous resentment of his own wife, be it deliberate or subconscious) on a public forum has to be a new level of achievement for smoked meats.

Sorry for mixing thoughts, hillbilly reference is to my man, Buzz. (Texas and Wisconsin)   BTW, great book on the subject of hillbillies is HILLBILLY ELEGY by J.D. Vance

I like absurd comedy, most scoopers take life very literally and seriously, the whole smoker debate is total absurdity and therefore hilarious, unless we take it seriously.

In Italy the smoked wild-bore salami is highly regarded, giving another perspective on sophisticated Italians and sophisticated hillbillies.  I know, probably way too complicated.

[real chili 83]

the "smokin purists" probably cringe, but i love the electric because i can control the temperature like an oven.  if your want to make cleaning easier, tin foil, tin foil and more tin foil.  also, spray down anything not tin foiled with pam or some other spray oil.  and, clean it more often. 

  as for the flavor, chili could probably tell you more about that, but it still burns the wood of your choice. i haven't had many people turn down a good piece of smoked meat(or fish). i think it's like people who still believe the charcoal grill is the only way to go. doing a pork shoulder or belly and beef brisket for Christmas.

    i love the side loader, as most decent smokers have, so you don't have to open the doors to add chips.

this may be somewhat biased as i've never used anything but an electric, but i believe they do a nice job

I love my electric smoker.  Simple to use, very easy to control temps, and great flavor. 

A BGE is super intriguing.  With the right accessories, it is incredibly versatile as a smoker, grill, and oven.  You can dial down the temps to cold smoking (I use for bacon), or dial it us to 600+ degrees for killer steaks. 

[rocket surgeon]

I love my electric smoker.  Simple to use, very easy to control temps, and great flavor. 

A BGE is super intriguing.  With the right accessories, it is incredibly versatile as a smoker, grill, and oven.  You can dial down the temps to cold smoking (I use for bacon), or dial it us to 600+ degrees for killer steaks.

pardon my "where did i miss it",  but what does BGE stand for?  i may have to get one of those bad boys